Nostalgia and popcorn...

[GoSlash27]

 All,
 I had 2 distinct "good times" during my childhood. 1971 through 1973 and 1976 through 1981. Like many here, my memories are jumbled and confused. I've lost good memories along with the bad.
 I've taken to rekindling them through interacting with items I enjoyed. My latest purchases are a pack of Jiffy-pop popcorn and a 1981 vintage Wear-ever popcorn pumper complete with the flimsy butter melting tray.
 In the 1970s it was all about "Jiffy-Pop". Disposable aluminum pans with popcorn and oil sealed in an aluminum foil bag. I'd shake it back and forth on the burner furiously and the popcorn would fill up the bag.
 In the early 1980s it was the hot air popper. This one is dear to my heart because it was part of our "childhood independence" ritual. We kids popped pretty much every kernel that machine ever produced. Sleepovers, late night "chiller theater", popping popcorn in the hallway so we could still see the TV.
 At my dad's house *he* always made the popcorn. Orville Redenbacher's with the gourmet popping oil. Done up in a cast iron skillet. It was amazing popcorn, but I know 1) It wouldn't be the same and 2) It was a "him" activity, not "me". Not as hands- on.
 Mid to late 1980s was Act II microwave popcorn, which is a period I don't care to revisit.
 The key is it must be exactly the same item, not merely similar.
 Anyway, food for thought. I have a Wheel-O to remind me of my foster family and I'm looking various other items to help me revisit happy times.

Best,
-Slashy

[Kizzie]

That's a really good idea for helping to retrieve those fuzzy memories/times which so many of us have difficulty with Slashy. The smell and taste would be very evocative I would imagine. 

[GoSlash27]

 Kizzie,
 Yeah. Bypassing the hippocampus (card catalog) via the limbic system (sensory triggers) is basically how I access all of my memories. Music is my most oft used "trigger", but the more senses I can involve, the more powerful the access becomes.
 The act of popping popcorn involves nearly all of the senses, so it should prove very evocative.
 Just have to make sure they're not memories you've repressed. I have yet to experience a flashback that wasn't upsetting in some way.

 Best,
-Slashy

[Kizzie]

You know for the longest time whenever I smelled alcohol on someone's breath, whiskey mainly, I would trigger and it was because my F was an alcoholic. I guess smells can bring back negative memories too.

I find I'm listening to evocative music more these days, songs from my younger years that almost immediately give rise to good feelings. Very pleasing I must say. There are sad songs too but I'm steering towards the good stuff which I take to be a sign of positive recovery or as Sense Organ would say "post traumatic joy". It's an interesting flip side of the coin to think we can trigger good memories and feelings.